Blind construction



March 31, 1953 -R A. CURTIS, JR 2,633,191

BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed June21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illlllllrlllln x66 Iaweniod 5 Roger J1. 018w J3 flibr uegu March 31, 1953 U -n5, JR2,633,191

BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed June 21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 so 4b Inveniba":

' Rogefl d1. was J2 L by 7% x 7% flwoa nqy-s Patented Mar. 31, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLIND CONSTRUCTION Roger A. Curtis, J r.,Arlington, Mass.

Application June 21, 1950, Serial No. 169,500

2 Claims. (Cl. 160-176) This invention relates to improvements inVenetian blind construction which may be embodied in a screen for afireplace or a screen for a window. I I

The slats for Venetian blinds produced as screens for windows or otherpurposes are usually made fiat or may be curved in cross section. Whensuch a blind is closed, the slats overlap and-do not present asmootheven surface.

[In the patent to Renton, 2,318,525, V-shaped slats or louver bars areemployed, but when closed the Benton screen has overlapping slats anddoes not present a smooth even surface.

It is an object of my invention to provide a construction for Venetianblinds or screens which may be used for window openings, fireplaceopenings or other purposes in which the slats or louver bars are madeV-shaped in cross section and are so arranged that the blind may beclosed to present a smooth even surface which may, if desired, bedecorated to present an attractive appearance from the inside of theroom.

Further objects and advantages of my improvements will be more readilyapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof as disclosed in the attached drawings, in which:

Fig... 1 is. a fragmentary perspective view showing part of a Venetianblind construction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the tion so that the screenportion of the bars are arranged in a vertical plane;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of one of the bars in theposition of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a similar effective view showing the bar in the position ofFig. 3;

Fig. 8 is another perspective view showing the bar in the position ofFig.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed vertical cross section showing the mannerin which the bars adjoin to present a smooth surface on one side;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section of a blind construction in which thebars or slats are made V-shaped but with a substantially wide anglebetween the two sides of the bars;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 10 but showing the mannerin which the bars may be tilted to present a smooth surface on one side;and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section showing the adjoining portionsof adjacent bars.

The blind construction disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 is principallydesigned for use as a screen or a blind in front of a fireplace openingbut a similar construction is adaptable for use as a window blind. Thehead board [0 conceals the operating mechanism. The horizontal shaft 12is rotatably mounted for raising or lowering the slats of the blind.Ball bearings l4 and. I6 are carried in the side frames I8 and 20. Theshaft I2 is supported at one end in the ball bearing l6 and maybe i Theshaft '32 may be turned by the gear 34 through the pull-chain 36. Theshort shaft 32 is fixed to the end wall 38 of the rocker 26.

The Venetian blind slats or louver bars 40 may be retained at their endsagainst side sway by the side frames l8 and 20 which have the front andback walls 42 and 44. The side frames I8 and 20 are thereby U-shaped incross section and adapted to guide the vertical movement of the slats orbars 40. The cords 46, which are attached to the shaft l2, extendthrough the slots 48 in the bars 40 and are attached to the lowermostbar or bottom of the blind so that by turning the shaft I2 the bars maybe raised to stack the bars. The tapes 50 are attached to the rocker 26and to a series of straps 52 which form supports for the individual barsin the customary manner. Turning of the rocker 26 will thereby causetilting of the bars. If the blind is used for a window, conventionaloperating mechanism could be employed.

I have shown that the bars 40, in Figs. 1 and 2, are made V-shaped incross section. The angle between the two sides of the bar is preferablybetween and A 90 angle, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, may be used, or asubstantially wide angle may be used as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

When the bars are made V-shaped, as disclosed, they may be arranged inthree difierent positions,

as well as intermediate positions. The middle position is shown in Fig.3 and the end positions on either side of the middle are shown in Figs.4 and 5. The bars should be suitably spaced so that, when arranged inthe positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lower edge of one bar issubstantially close to the middle line of the adjacent lower bar so thata substantially smooth flat surface is presented.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the V-shaped slats, as disclosed, are designed foruse as slats or bars for a fire screen but it will be understood thatsimilar forms of slats or bars may be employed if the blind is to beused for other purposes.

In Figs. 3 to 9, each bar 40 is made V- shaped with the two sideportions 54 and 56. side portions may meet in a sharp angle orpreferably in a rounded angle, as shown at 58. The edge of the side 54of each bar 40 is preferably shaped as shown at 60 in Fig. 9 so as tocome closely adjacent to the rounded surface of theadjacent bar. In thisposition, the side 54 of the bars are in a vertical plane and only avery small clearance is permitted between each pair of bars. 7 I

When used as a fire screen, the Vene'tian bars in Figs 3 to 9 may bemade of metal with the sides 56 of each bar formed in part of wirescreening or of reticulated metal.

There are many advantages in using a Venetian blind construction for afire screen. When the'screen is closed in the position of Fig. 4, theflat surface may face towards the room and the fireplace will beentirely concealed. The screen may be set into a fireplace opening insuch mannor thatthe screen will close the opening in the position ofFig. 4 and prevent drafts from the chimney. When the fireplace is inuse, the screen may be turned to the position of Fig. in' which thescreen surfaces are in a common plane and the blind will serve as ascreen against sparks from the fire. In an intermediate position, thescreen may be adjusted to control the draft of the fire.

If the blind construction is used for a window opening, or in place of awindow, one side of each slat may be made of transparent material andthe other of opaque material. The bars or slats could, for example, bemade of plastic with one side opaque and the other side translucent ortransparent. When closed to the position of Fig. 4, the smooth opaqueside could face the room' and could be decorated to present an effectiveappearance.- When turned to the position of Fig. 5, the blind will admitlight but not air, and in intermediate position, the blind may beadjusted to admit air from the outside but out off or subdue the light.

Figures 10 to 12 show a construction in which the bars 62 are made withthe two sides 64 and 66 at a substantially wide angle. The bars, 62

These.

may be controlled by the cords 46 and the tapes 50 as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 11 and 12 show the manner in which the slats or bars 62 may beclosed to present a substantially smooth surface on one side.

7 I claim:

1. In a blind construction of the Venetian type for an opening, aplurality of bars, each bar being V'-shaped in cross'section and mountedin the inverted position, the angle between the sides of each V-shapedbar being not less than each bar having a rounded surface at the centerline between the sides thereof, means for determining the verticalspacing of the bars, means for tiltingthebar'sbetween limiting positionsin which the sides of the bars are brought into a common vertical plane,each bar having at least one free edge formed to an angular shapeconforming to the rounded surface at the center line of the adjacent barwhereby when the bars are tilted to bring the sides into 'acommon planethe angular free edge of each bar is brought closely adjacent therounded angle between the sides of the, adjacent lower bar.

2. A screen for a fireplace of the-Venetian type having a plurality ofbars or slats, eachof said bars being made of metal and formed V-shapedin cross section and mounted in the-inverted position, the. anglebetween the sides of the V-shaped bars being, more than 90, each barhaving a rounded surface at the center line between the sides thereofand also having its free edges formed to an angular shape conforming tothe rounded surface at the center line of the adjacent bar, meansfortilting said bars to bring either side thereof into a common verticalplane, one side of each bar being imperforate and the other sideperforate, whereby when the bars are tilted to one position-the-screenforms a closure for the fireplace opening and when tilted to the otherside to bring the other side of the bars: into a common plane, thescreen serves as a fire'screen-against sparks from the fireplace. ROGERA. CURTIS, JR.

REFERENCES CiTED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patenta.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 335,354 Hayes Feb. 2, 18862,059,134 Metcalf Oct. 27, 1936 2,110,145 Loehr Mar. 8, 1938 2,155,985Waterman Apr. 25, 1939 2,315,605 Ehrenfeld Apr. 6, 1943 2,395,096 Brown4.. Feb. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Coiintry Date 65,893D'eninarlii Nov. 17; 1947

